Raise A Glass For Richard

Before I start I feel as though I should pay tribute to Richard Coldwell, who sadly passed away last week.

It came as a huge surprise as I had been organising a day out in Brum with him this summer, just a couple of days prior to the sad news.

A beer writer, CAMRA member, pub blogger and son of a publican who was never short of a viewpoint but always with his tongue firmly in his cheek.

A regular contributor to my blog in the comments section his tirades against big breweries – in particular Marston’s – were no holds barred.

In fact, his penultimate comment on my site regarding beer snakes during this post on a boozer in Newton Solney encapsulated Rich perfectly.

“Detest the ignorant beer snake w@nkers. It’s them that spoils big cricket matches for me at Headingley. No idea but plenty of beer. They need to grow up.

“Imagine the consequences if some idiots hoy one of them, with upwards of fifty, albeit plastic but sturdy, glasses over the back of the Western terrace onto your head, or a kiddy, while your queuing up at the bar/food counter behind the stand.

They’ve got to be w@nkers to drink that Bank’s brewed (Tetley’s) shite they dole out at Headingley too, near on £5 a pint – who said craft beer was a rip off? Rant over!”

RIP Rich – you’ll be hugely missed and thoughts are with your family.

Anyway, I can imagine what he would have thought of the offering at 427 – Lullington Park Cricket Club DE12 8EH.

You’ll remember this village and the friendly boozer with the two old boys waxing lyrical about Bass.

About a two minute walk up the road is the cricket club and it’s a behemoth of a venue.

‘Middle of nowhere’ springs to mind with this place but it’s huge and worth remembering that its full postcode classes it as Swadlincote and I’ve not seen many views like this in Swad recently…

A sunny Friday evening watching my lad play cricket as well as noting some lads who should know better playing with a plastic bat and incrediball

whilst drinking a pint of Marston’s Pedigree….what could be better?

I know Rich would appreciate the fact I am commemorating him with a pint of Pedigree and his wicked sense of humour would rip into it with an acerbic but amusing comment.

It was actually just what was needed after a long day at work and with a lot of clubs operating bottles only bars then fair play to Lullington for sticking a classic Pedigree pump behind their bar and pouring, what I presumed to be, a keg version of Burton’s finest.

I just wish Richard was still here to give the Midlands brewing scene a kick up that jaxy.  I’m going to miss you.